Cuff links



Sept. 22, 1964 G. BEEKENKAMP CUFF LINKS Filed Oct. 19, 1962 II l3 Arm A Iryr.

United States Patent "ice 3,149,385 CUFF LINKS Gerald Beekenkamp, Ste. 4092663 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Toronto 14, Ontario, Canada Filed Oct. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 231,657 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-101) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in cuff links.

It is well known that conventional cuif links normally include resilient means adapted to facilitate the operation of a movable part which in turn facilitates the engaging and disengaging of the cuff links from the shirt cuff.

However, the resilient means often fails and also the movable parts break thus causing, at the best, inconvenience, and at the worst, loss of one of the cuff links, the head of which may be quite valuable as it is well known to incorporate gem stones and the like in said head.

By providing a solid cuff link Without moving parts I have overcome these disadvantages and at the same time provided a cuff link which is easily engaged and disengaged from the shirt cuff, yet which prevents, to a great extent, inadvertent disengagement.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described which contains no moving parts and which is therefore eminently suitable for production in one piece.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which although easily engaged and disengaged when desired, nevertheless includes means to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the cuff link from the shirt cuif apertures.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which readily permits the engraving of initials or designs upon the head plate or, alternatively, permits the setting therein of semi-precious or precious stones. This makes the device particularly applicable for manufacture by jewelry findings companies who normally manufacture the mechanical portions of such devices, leaving other companies to provide the decorative features.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my device.

FIGURE 2 is a view at right angles to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of my device.

FIGURE 4 is a view at right angles to FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of my device.

IGURE 6 is a View at right angles to FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my device.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of a shirt cuff with my device in position.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Patented Sept. 22, 1964 Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, it should be first pointed out that the device can be manufactured either from plastic, metal or other suitable material which can be cast, stamped or otherwise formed.

All of the embodiments include the head plate 10 upon which may be placed decorative features, either by means of engraving (such as designs, initials and the like) or by the placement thereon or the setting therein of precious or semi-precious stones and the like. As the finishing of cult links is well known, these decorative features are not illustrated in the drawings.

Extending at right angles from the head plate and situated centrally thereon, is a stem portion 11 and extending at right angles from the distal end of the stern, are wings 12.

In all of the embodiments, the sides 13 of the stem 11 converge towards a common apex 14 and in FIG- URES l and 7, the base of the stern, adjacent where it extends from the head plate 10, is recessed or necked as at 15. This facilitates the engagement of the cuif link apertures 18 of the shirt cufi 19 around the stem when the device is in position.

The inner edges 16 of the wings 12 preferably curve towards the apex 14 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, thus forming recessed areas 17 adjacent the stem 11 but in all cases it will be observed that the plane of the Wings 12 is at right angles to the plane of the stem 11.

Insofar as the preferred embodiment shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 7 and the alternative embodiments shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 are concerned, I have provided the underside edges 16 of the wings so that they form a slightly acute angle With the longitudinal axis of the stem. This facilitates the engagement of the cult link Within the shirt cuff as will hereinafter be described.

In operation, the cuff link is held so that the wings 16 are in alignment with the longitudinal axis 20 of the cult link apertures 18 whereupon the cuff link wings 12 are pushed through the apertures 18. When the wings are clear of the apertures, the cuff link is turned through degrees thus aligning the plane of the stem with the longitudinal axis 20 of the apertures, the ends 21 of which engage Within the notches 15. Under these circumstances, of course, the inner edges 16 of the wings lie transversely across the longitudinal axis of the shirt cufr apertures and prevent inadvertent disengagement therefrom. At the same time, the stem 13 is disposed in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the apertures also preventing the rotation of the device through 90 degrees which is necessary for disengagement of the wings 12 from the cuff.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely ditferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A rigid cuff link comprising in combination a head plate, a substantially flat stem rigidly connected at one end thereof to one side of said head plate and projecting laterally at right angles therefrom, said stern having a pair of outwardly convergent edges and a tapered outer end, and a flat Wing plate rigidly connected to the outer end portion of said stern, said Wing plate being disposed in a plane at right angles to the stem and also at right angles to said head plate and projecting laterally to both sides of the stem to form a pair of wings at the oppospaced longitudinally outwardly beyond the tapered outer end of the stem, said Wings also having inner edges joined to the stem at points spaced longitudinally in- 5 wardly from the outer end of the stern whereby the 'tapered outer end portion of the stern and the. inner edge portion of said wing plate are mutually intersected to provide the cut? link with a cruciform section at that point; said edges of said stem at said one side of said 10 head plate being provided with sleeve retaining notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Danforth Feb. 28, 1899 Benedict Oct. 6, 1903 FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Dec. 27, 1916 Great Britain of 1895 Great Britain of 1896 Great Britain of 1911 

